Shackle for carriage-springs



(No Model.)

, H. WESTPHAL & E. DIETERLA.

. SHAGKLE FOR CARRIAGE SPRINGS. I No. 295,318. 7 Patented Mar. 18, 1884.

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SHACKLE FOR CARRIAGEQSPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,318, dated March18, 1884.

Application filed July 31, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY WEs'rPHAL and EDWARD DIETERLA, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Sh'ackles tor GarriageSprings, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side view of the shackle and a cross-sectional. view ofthe side-bar of a carriage; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing thesocket-case in vertical cross-section; Figs. 3 and 4., verticalsectional views of the part of the shackle, showing the ball-and-socketj oint; Fig. 5, a view on the top of the semi-spherical ball, as in Fig.4; 6, a view of the ball or sphere a, showing how its two parts areunited; and Fig. 7 a plan view on the top of the seat or socket forsupporting the ball a.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the shackle of acarriage-spring for connecting the body of a carriage with therunning-gear on the principle of the ball-andsocket joint, whereby auniversal movement or motion is given the ball and the end of the springthereto attached.

In the drawings, A represents the side-bar of the buggy and c theordinary clip {or attaching the shackle to the side-bar. The shackleproper consists of the circular plate a. (shown more particularly inFig. 7,) having the ears n n for the reception of the clip, and'thecircular concave'opening forming the seat or. socket for the receptionof the ball a, in which seat or socket the ball rolls according to themotion of the carriage. A cover or plate, a covers the ball a; and platea, to exclude dust and cover up the parts. The ball a is provided withthe slot across its lower end for the reception of the link D, heldtherein by the pin B and to which" link the spring S hinges by means ofthe ears D and bolt (1, as shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. Bythis met-hodof hinging the end to the bottom of the ball it is permittedto roll in any direction in its seat, to cushion any jar or jolt of thecarriage, and permits a side swing to the body as well as an end swing.To prevent accident in case the pin B should break or wear out, theupper end of the link is provided with a pair of opposite lugs, B, whichenter corre sponding curved recesses, 13, within the ball a, so that ifthe pin 13 should break, the lugs 13 will support the link D and preventit drop ping down and out.

The ball a may be made in halves, soit may be easy to insert the linktherein, and it may be a perfect sphere or semi-spherical in form, asshown in Figs. 2 and 4. If it is spherical, then such a cover, a is usedas shown in Fig. 3. If fiat or half-sphere, then such cover may be usedas shown in Fig. 4, having a space between the ball. and the cover, sothe ball can roll to a sufficient degree. The great object of thisconstruction of the shackle is to permit the attached end of the springsto swing or move in any direction, so that the body may be attached tothe running-gear witlras little rigidity as possible, yielding to anymove ment or jar of the running-gear and giving a motion delightfullyfree from any sudden concussions or jolts from whatever direction orcause.

When a semi-spherical ball is used, it is necessary that there should bea space between its upper surface and the cover or cap a, to permit ittoroll in any direction. To prevent any jumping up or rattling of the ballwithin the cover a", the link D extend upward far enough to meet the cap(L as shown at e, Fig. 4. The ball may be provided with a slightenlargement at its lower side to give more metal to support the pin B asis shown in Fig. 6.

The shackle may be inverted if desired, so the link D will bear againstthe bar A, and be held thereto by the clip 0 in cars formed on saidlink, and the spring S be suspended from ears projecting from the seata, thereby dispensing with the cover a In either case the same resultwill be attained. It will merely be changing the ears a on seat a to thelink D, and the ears D on the link D to the seat c.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit:

1. In the spring-shackle described, the combination of the ball a, seata, cover a, link 1), pin B, spring S, and clip G, all attached to thebar A, as shown, and arranged to oper ate as and in the manner setforth.

2. The combination of the spherical or semispherical body a, having thelugs B, pin 13*, and seat a, attached to the side bar, A, by the l l lcombination with the link D, having the lugs IO B, and the seat orsocket a, as and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY WVESTPHAL. EDWARD DIETEBLA.

Vitnesses:

A. F. RAVERET, WM. J. HUTOHINS.

